#review #BathTangle by Georgette Heyer

Bath Tangle is a historical romance by Georgette Heyer. It features two strong protagonists and a sort of double romance with two secondary characters which are much more likeable than the main characters.

​I really didn’t know how to rate this book. The beginning and the end are so much better than the middle.

First of all, I had a different impression of it than what the book turned out to be. I picked it up, thinking it would be something in the line of a light adventure, maybe similar to the Corinthian. The cover gives the impression of more liveliness than is present in the story.

*Warning for spoilers ahead.*

The start gives us a different picture of the heroine than what we find as the book progresses. She doesn’t come across as headstrong and bad tempered in the beginning, but soon that image is dispelled. The book becomes dull for a few pages but perks up as the setting changes.

Serena and Ivo are not very lovable or aspiring protagonists. The plus about the book is they had been depicted with all their faults without any excuses. However, continued clashes and battle of wills just makes the reader tired. The ending provided some insight and of course a lot of romance but I did wonder what sort of life they would have together if they can’t get along with each other. Moreover, they are unlikely to retain many friends either. A romance rather like Wuthering Heights, though a bit mellower.

Another thing I missed was that very little explanation was given for their past. Little or no account why they became engaged or why it failed. It would have helped to understand them better.

The reason I ended up giving four stars was that there was an uplifting feeling in reading Serena’s totally independent nature. She does become aspiring in the sense that she doesn’t care about anyone’s opinion and cuts herself no slack, so to speak. However, it is clear she can do as she pleases because of the license her position and social status gives her, so that takes away any feeling that she has faced any hardships to become what she is. Still it was good to read this sort of female character.

One thought on “#review #BathTangle by Georgette Heyer ”

I skipped the spoiler section, since I saw your favorable rating, and in case I picked this book up anytime soon, I did not want to be spoiled.

Though I read the overview. It sounds interesting.And I am generally more forgiving towards the books that sag in the middle. I mean in a perfect world, everything is as gripping. But the middle is easier for me to forgive. Ruining the start normally means I may not even continue reading the whole thing, and ruining the conclusion is a cardinal sin in my book. 😛